Townley tradition celebrates workers

Published: Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 1:18 p.m.

At some point over the past century, Labor Day went from being a celebration honoring the American worker to summer's final fling. From its beginning in 1882, unions were spotlighted, the common man was feted, even campaigns for president once started on the first Monday of September.

Not completely. Not in Candler, where off and on over the past 50 years Townley Engineering & Manufacturing has thrown a God & Country Day party on Labor Day to recognize and honor the working man, just like the earliest Labor Day celebrations.

The last one was 16 years ago; the Townley family is brushing off the dust to host another one on Monday. And they are picking up the tab for the whole thing.

Officially, the day's festivities begin at 11 a.m.

"My father was a working man, a coal miner in southern West Virginia," Townley President Toro Townley said of his dad, the late Jake Townley. "I think he chose Labor Day because it's a day that honors work, and there are a lot of people here who work.

"Marion County is a special place, and the Lord gives us an opportunity to reach out and serve the needs of the community."

The years haven't changed the ideal.

"We wanted to have a celebration of the working people in this county," Townley said of the last celebration 16 years ago. "Working people have always stood for the values that founded this country."

Now, this is not just any picnic in a park. There'll be cold drinks and food — some 100,000 hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches, corn on the cob, frozen treats and games; 50 kids' bicycles will be given away — five every half-hour. Moreover, it's all free — although bringing a chair is good idea, said former Sheriff Ed Dean, an event organizer.

Beyond the food, there's entertainment; inspirational speakers and musicians are scheduled to appear. Among the speakers are world-renowned evangelist the Rev. Reinhard Bonnke and his partner, the Rev. Daniel Kolenda, and retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commanded allied forces in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.

The headliner, though, is Grammy Award-winning Jason Crabb, the reigning Dove Award Artist of the Year. Just last week Crabb was nominated for six more Dove Awards, including Song of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Inspirational Song of the Year.

"I'm excited about being there," Crabb said from his home in North Carolina. "It's going to be fun."

This will be his first visit to the Ocala area.

"We really try to hit everything," he said, "the old hymms, dress them up so you can sing along; also the 'Hey, we're gonna get through this' kind of thing. I grew up in the country, and that sweet tea just kind of leaks out."

For members of the Townley family, this year's Labor Day also is a special time to remember. This year marks 50 years from when Jake Townley, a coal miner, started the Candler-based company that makes pumps and other gear to make the miner's job easier. The Labor Day party was particularly special for him.

Townley now boasts five other plants in the United States, and sells around the world; yet, not one piece of the machinery created here stays here.

"They don't sell anything here, but they do spend a lot of money in Marion County," Dean said. "It's just something they feel they should do."

The elder Townley hosted the first Labor Day fete in 1976 with a few more during the 1980s and again in 1995, '96 and '97. He died in July 1997 amid planning for that year's gathering.

"He wanted us to go forward," said Dean, who's married to Jake Townley's daughter, Sarah. "The Labor Day celebration was part of the fabric of who he was."

Still, they haven't put one on since — until this year.

And that decision resulted from a series of events on April 16, Toro Townley said. First, during a morning meeting with YMCA leaders, Townley was asked if they were planning another "Labor Day" — and offered to help. An hour later, Toro said he received a call from Bonnke, who's preached all over the world, who simply said "he'd be here with us on Labor Day." They hadn't previously asked Bonnke to come.

Finally, at lunch, Toro bumped into a neighbor — who agreed to let Townley use his nearby pastureland for parking.

"The spirit of God definitely guided this occurrence," Townley said. "God's hand is right in the middle of what is happening."

"And hopefully we've never lost our sense of what work is about and our responsibility to our fellow man," he said.

A lot of folks seem to be looking forward to attending, if the event's Facebook following is any indication.

"It is going to be an awesome day," wrote Anne Halas Johns.

And added Robert VanHoose: "Everyone needs a faith lift from time to time, and this should be the greatest 'faith lift' our area has ever seen."

<p>At some point over the past century, Labor Day went from being a celebration honoring the American worker to summer's final fling. From its beginning in 1882, unions were spotlighted, the common man was feted, even campaigns for president once started on the first Monday of September.</p><p>Now, the day is mostly a last-gasp before autumn sets in.</p><p>Not completely. Not in Candler, where off and on over the past 50 years Townley Engineering & Manufacturing has thrown a God & Country Day party on Labor Day to recognize and honor the working man, just like the earliest Labor Day celebrations. </p><p>The last one was 16 years ago; the Townley family is brushing off the dust to host another one on Monday. And they are picking up the tab for the whole thing.</p><p>Officially, the day's festivities begin at 11 a.m.</p><p>"My father was a working man, a coal miner in southern West Virginia," Townley President Toro Townley said of his dad, the late Jake Townley. "I think he chose Labor Day because it's a day that honors work, and there are a lot of people here who work.</p><p>"Marion County is a special place, and the Lord gives us an opportunity to reach out and serve the needs of the community."</p><p>The years haven't changed the ideal. </p><p>"We wanted to have a celebration of the working people in this county," Townley said of the last celebration 16 years ago. "Working people have always stood for the values that founded this country."</p><p>Now, this is not just any picnic in a park. There'll be cold drinks and food — some 100,000 hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches, corn on the cob, frozen treats and games; 50 kids' bicycles will be given away — five every half-hour. Moreover, it's all free — although bringing a chair is good idea, said former Sheriff Ed Dean, an event organizer.</p><p>"This may draw 30- or 40- or 50,000 people," Townley said. They're planning to feed at least 30,000-plus.</p><p>Beyond the food, there's entertainment; inspirational speakers and musicians are scheduled to appear. Among the speakers are world-renowned evangelist the Rev. Reinhard Bonnke and his partner, the Rev. Daniel Kolenda, and retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who commanded allied forces in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.</p><p>Musical acts include The Cargill's, LaVerne & Edith Tripp, the Trust Quartet, Don Warren and C. LaJuan Adams. </p><p>The headliner, though, is Grammy Award-winning Jason Crabb, the reigning Dove Award Artist of the Year. Just last week Crabb was nominated for six more Dove Awards, including Song of the Year, Country Song of the Year and Inspirational Song of the Year.</p><p>"I'm excited about being there," Crabb said from his home in North Carolina. "It's going to be fun."</p><p>This will be his first visit to the Ocala area.</p><p>"We really try to hit everything," he said, "the old hymms, dress them up so you can sing along; also the 'Hey, we're gonna get through this' kind of thing. I grew up in the country, and that sweet tea just kind of leaks out."</p><p>For members of the Townley family, this year's Labor Day also is a special time to remember. This year marks 50 years from when Jake Townley, a coal miner, started the Candler-based company that makes pumps and other gear to make the miner's job easier. The Labor Day party was particularly special for him.</p><p>Townley now boasts five other plants in the United States, and sells around the world; yet, not one piece of the machinery created here stays here.</p><p>"They don't sell anything here, but they do spend a lot of money in Marion County," Dean said. "It's just something they feel they should do."</p><p>The elder Townley hosted the first Labor Day fete in 1976 with a few more during the 1980s and again in 1995, '96 and '97. He died in July 1997 amid planning for that year's gathering.</p><p>"He wanted us to go forward," said Dean, who's married to Jake Townley's daughter, Sarah. "The Labor Day celebration was part of the fabric of who he was."</p><p>Still, they haven't put one on since — until this year.</p><p>And that decision resulted from a series of events on April 16, Toro Townley said. First, during a morning meeting with YMCA leaders, Townley was asked if they were planning another "Labor Day" — and offered to help. An hour later, Toro said he received a call from Bonnke, who's preached all over the world, who simply said "he'd be here with us on Labor Day." They hadn't previously asked Bonnke to come.</p><p>Finally, at lunch, Toro bumped into a neighbor — who agreed to let Townley use his nearby pastureland for parking.</p><p>"The spirit of God definitely guided this occurrence," Townley said. "God's hand is right in the middle of what is happening."</p><p>"And hopefully we've never lost our sense of what work is about and our responsibility to our fellow man," he said. </p><p>A lot of folks seem to be looking forward to attending, if the event's Facebook following is any indication. </p><p>"It is going to be an awesome day," wrote Anne Halas Johns.</p><p>And added Robert VanHoose: "Everyone needs a faith lift from time to time, and this should be the greatest 'faith lift' our area has ever seen."</p><p><i>Contact Rick Allen at rick.allen@star banner.com or 867-4154.</i></p>